Hunter’s Ridge Hunt Club in Oxford features 200-acres defined by rolling hills, towering oaks and farmland.

On this sun-splashed Saturday, Joel McCormick of Oxford and his son, Connor, along with Doug Zyngier of Rochester, and Cody, Zyngier’s yellow Labrador retriever, hunted the land for ring-necked pheasant. Hunting guide Eric Jozel walked down the middle of hedge rows as Cody zigzagged feverishly in pursuit of game.

Like clockwork, Cody pointed with his nose and within seconds a pheasant was flushed from the brush. The colorful ring-neck elevated high before Joel made a clean shot. Cody retrieved the bird to the guide who promptly put him in a traditional back pouch attached to his pheasant hunting jacket.

The scene repeated itself, over the course of two hours and several miles of walking.

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Young buck Connor, 19, emerged as the master of the ‘single shot’ on this day; pheasant-master Joel was labeled the ‘sure-handed long-range shot’ and amicable Doug was the master of the ‘quick shot.’

The birds that got away flew to the safety of the nearby horse farms and corn fields that surround the beautiful backdrop that is Hunter’s Ridge Hunt Club.

Once back at the clubhouse, the group gathered to enjoy what was left of a wonderful afternoon and the hunting lore shared by the club’s other guests.

Among them were Doug’s brother, John Zyngier, and Rob Walker – both of Oxford – along with Dave Liedke of Lake Orion, Mark Liedke of Romeo, Scott Noel of Ortonville, Mike Bartos of Ortonville, and Steve Kiehl of Rochester.

Hunter’s Ridge owner Dave Fischer said scenes like Saturday are common at the hunt club. It is celebrating 30 years of providing a state-licensed club that attracts the every-day person who enjoys the freedom of hunting in southeast Michigan.

“You have to feel comfortable when you come here,” Fischer said. “And safety is our number one concern.”

The Hunt Club offers memberships at low prices. The club provides hunter safety education, CPL classes, skeet shooting, sporting clays, dog training, dog boarding, shooting leagues, and lodging is available. The lodge is a farm house built in 1837 that has five rooms and sleeps 10 comfortably, and meals catered - a perfect place to put a quick two-day trip together.

For more information about Hunter’s Ridge Hunt Club, at 3921 Barber Road, in Oxford, call 248-628-4868 or visit www.huntersridgehuntclub.com.